During Rhodes’ initial return in 2022, he was lined up for a two-month feud with former WWE Champion Seth Rollins. This saga later culminated at the Hell in a Cell event. Prior to their final meeting, WWE revealed that Rhodes had sustained a torn pectoral muscle. Despite his pec being completely ripped off the bone, Rhodes proceeded to battle Rollins inside Hell in a Cell. Continuing with the interview, Rhodes described the weird sensation of wrestling with an injury like that.

“It’s one of the strangest audience reactions I’ve ever had,” Rhodes said. “I didn’t know, would they think this is cool? Really what it came across was, we don’t know how to feel about this. Talking about myself, he seems like he’s very injured, half of my body at that point. It was a complete tear, thing was ripped to shreds. And that bruise just kept getting bigger and bigger and it was running down. I thought I might have some other problems in my bicep and stuff because it was just getting bigger and bigger. I cramped up too, so it’s ripped off from here, but it’s still hanging up here, and all of a sudden it shot up real high. It looked like I had a giant chest.”

In the wake of his injury, Rhodes also noted that a large number of fans approached him to autograph photos showcasing his graphic injury reveal. In fact, Rhodes believes that image may be the piece of merchandise that he’s signed the most.

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit “The Dale Jr. Download” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.